Biography of John Ramsay 1st Earl Holderness 1580-1626
In 1580 John Ramsay 1st Earl Holderness was born.
On 05 Aug 1600. The Gowrie Conspiracy was an attempt by John Ruthven 3rd Earl Gowrie (age 23) and his brother Alexander Ruthven (age 20) to kill King James I (age 34). He, King James, had had their father William Ruthven 1st Earl Gowrie executed for his part in the Raid of Ruthven eighteen years earlier.
The attempt was botched. John Ruthven 3rd Earl Gowrie (age 23) and Alexander Ruthven (age 20) were killed, the former by John Ramsay 1st Earl Holderness (age 20).
William Ruthven fled to France.
Patrick Ruthven was imprisoned for nineteen years at the Tower of London [Map].
On 11 Jun 1606 John Ramsay 1st Earl Holderness (age 26) was created 1st Viscount Haddington.
On 09 Feb 1608 John Ramsay 1st Earl Holderness (age 28) and Elizabeth Radclyffe Viscountess Haddington were married at Whitehall Palace [Map]. She by marriage Viscountess Haddington. She the daughter of Robert Radclyffe 5th Earl of Sussex (age 34) and Bridget Morrison Countess Sussex.
James I (age 41) gave the bride away and sent the bride a gold cup containing a grant of lands worth an income of £600 per year, also paid off Ramsay's debts of £10,000.
The marriage was celebrated with the Masque of The Hue and Cry After Cupid in the evening of 09 Feb 1608 at the Banqueting House, Whitehall Palace [Map] written by Ben Johnson (age 36).
The principal masquers, nobles and gentlemen of the Court, appeared in the guise of the twelve signs of the Zodiac; the men, five English and seven Scottish courtiers, were:
Ludovic Stewart 2nd Duke Lennox 1st Duke Richmond (age 33).
Thomas Howard 21st Earl Arundel 4th Earl Surrey 1st Earl Norfolk (age 22).
Philip Herbert 4th Earl Pembroke 1st Earl Montgomery (age 23).
William Herbert 3rd Earl Pembroke (age 27).
Esmé Stewart 3rd Duke Lennox (age 29).
Theophilus Howard 2nd Earl Suffolk (age 25).
James Hay 1st Earl Carlisle (age 28).
Robert Crichton 8th Lord Sanquhar.
John Kennedy, Master of Mar.
Robert Rich 2nd Earl Warwick (age 20).
Mr Erskine.
On 06 Dec 1618 [his wife] Elizabeth Radclyffe Viscountess Haddington died of smallpox.
In 1621 Hatton Fermor of Easton Neston Northamptonshire (age 41) and [his future sister-in-law] Anne Cockayne (age 16) were married. She brought a marriage portion of £4000. The difference in their ages was 24 years. She the daughter of William Cockayne (age 60) and Mary Morris Countess Dover (age 56).
On 22 Jan 1621 John Ramsay 1st Earl Holderness (age 41) was created 1st Earl Holderness by King James I (age 54).
Autobiography Simon D'Ewes. 25 Aug 1622. On Sunday, the 25th day of this month, preached one Mr. Claydon, (minister of Hackney, near London,) at St. Paul's Cross [Map]; and cited a story out of our Chronicles, of a Spanish sheep, brought into England in Edward the First's time, which infected most of the sheep of England with a murrain, and prayed God no more such sheep might be brought over from thence hither; at which many of his bearers cried out "Amen." So much generally did all men fear that Prince Charles should marry1 the King of Spain's (age 17) sister (age 16), as they ever hated that nation. He lay awhile in prison for his sermon, but was soon after set at liberty by the mediation of Sir John Ramsey (age 42), Knt., a Scotchman, Earl of Holderness, whose chaplain he was.
Note 1. In MS. Egerton 783, is a curious paper, entitled "A Private Consideration of the intended Marriage between Charles, Prince of Woles, and Mary of Austria, Daughter of the late Phillip the Third king of Spain."It commences as follows: - "The House of Parliament should once have been blown up, and now is supposed to be broken up for the averseness of the Commons to the Spanish match, for expressing their fears of danger and loss to the kingdom, both daily confirmed and increased by the acquires of the King of Spain, and prooeedings of the Spanish action; by our treative complements with Spain, and for protesting to preserve their rights and privileges." The proposed articles of marriage are given in the same volume.
Around 1624 John Ramsay 1st Earl Holderness (age 44) and Martha Cockayne Countess Lindsey and Holderness (age 19) were married. She by marriage Countess Holderness. The difference in their ages was 25 years. She the daughter of William Cockayne (age 63) and Mary Morris Countess Dover (age 59).
In Jan 1626 John Ramsay 1st Earl Holderness (age 46) died. Earl Holderness and Viscount Haddington extinct.
On 18 Apr 1627 Montagu Bertie 2nd Earl Lindsey (age 19) and [his former wife] Martha Cockayne Countess Lindsey and Holderness (age 22) were married. She the daughter of William Cockayne and Mary Morris Countess Dover (age 62). He the son of Robert Bertie 1st Earl Lindsey (age 44) and Elizabeth Montagu Countess Lindsey.
In Jul 1641 [his former wife] Martha Cockayne Countess Lindsey and Holderness (age 36) died.